Heidelberg will end production of its famous Printmaster GTO 52 from March 2014 in response to changing market needs.

The German manufacturer said it would now focus on its Speedmaster SM 52 and SX 52 presses, which have sold more than 30,000 units worldwide, and its Linoprint C 901 and C 751 digital printing systems.

"The highly productive Speedmaster SM 52 has long offered customers working with the Printmaster GTO 52 an effective springboard for further growth," according to Heidelberg.

"And, since Drupa 2012, the Speedmaster SX 52 has been available in configurations that can be tailored precisely to customer requirements.

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"The press can also be ordered with the Anicolor short inking unit, which is ideal for the production of short print runs due to its extremely short makeready times and low paper waste."

Heidelberg added that its Linoprint systems also offered "an attractive and cost-effective complementary solution" for short and variable runs.

"We are adapting to the new requirements in the small-format segment and are optimising our portfolio for this market," said board member Stephan Plenz.

"Because our portfolio for this segment comprises offset and digital printing technologies, customers benefit from the close interlinking of both worlds and can boost their competitive edge even further."

The GTO 52 was launched at Drupa in 1972. Heidelberg announced during last year's 40th anniversary celebrations that it had since sold more than 106,000 units worldwide.

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